The trial of a man accused of killing three people in Dec. 2010 will resume Monday "as if it had never stopped."

Camden County Circuit Court Judge Ken Hayden declared a four-and-a-half month long recess in the trial of Morris McCabe after questions of the integrity of blood evidence surfaced in the opening days of the trial. McCabe's trial began Monday, Feb. 4 and abruptly halted Feb. 5.

Prosecuting Attorney Brian Keedy said the trial will resume exactly where it left off with Dr. Keith Norton taking the stand Monday morning.

Norton handled the autopsies of Sally Amos, Donald Meyers and Donald Young, who were found shot to death on the morning of Dec. 3, 2010 at Meyers' home outside Stoutland in southeastern Camden County.

On Feb. 5, Keedy presented state exhibit 75, the DNA standard for Amos. Keedy showed Norton the card, which contains a sample of dried blood, and pointed out the initials on the card.

Norton testified that he had not in fact taken that sample of blood. He said it was probably taken at Saint Louis University, at the same time fluids were removed to complete a toxicology report.

Public defenders Beth Davis-Kerry and Dave Kenyon asked Hayden to reconsider the exhibit because of speculation of where and when the standard was made.

Keedy said Wednesday that the validity of the DNA standard had been resolved.

The DNA sample is a key piece of evidence for the prosecution. In his opening statement, Keedy alleged that blood stains on the stitching of a left glove found with Morris McCabe at the scene of his arrest contained a DNA match to Sally Amos. Without a credible DNA standard, Keedy's prime piece of evidence held no bearing in court until verification.

Keedy also said that during the course of the recess, a Verizon expert consented to testify in regards to cell phone activity allegedly proving the whereabouts of McCabe at the time of the crime.

Keedy said he felt "confident" that Hayden would reach a guilty verdict in the case.

McCabe waived his right to a jury trial in exchange for the revocation of a possible death sentence if found guilty — meaning Hayden alone will decide the verdict.

The trial of Morris McCabe will resume Monday, June 17, 2013 at 9 a.m. at the Camden County Courthouse.